Walter W. Wood

Walter W. Wood
Biographical details
Born(1894-09-28)September 28, 1894
Madison, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 18, 1980(1980-01-18) (aged 85)
Alton, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1914–1915Kansas
1919Kansas
Baseball
1915–1916Kansas
1920Kansas
PositionsQuarterback, center (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1916Alton HS (IL)
1920Shurtleff
1922Shurtleff
1923–1924Muhlenberg
1925–1933Shurtleff
Basketball
1924–1925Muhlenberg
?–1934Shurtleff
1939–?Alton HS (IL)
Baseball
1924–1925Muhlenberg

Walter Winfred "Punk" Wood (September 28, 1894 – January 18, 1980) was an American football player and a football, basketball, and baseball coach. He lettered three times as a quarterback and center at the University of Kansas (1914–1915, 1919).[1]

Wood attended Alton High School in Alton, Illinois, where he was captain and quarterback for the football team in 1912.[2] He served in the United States Army during World War I.[3]

Wood coached at Alton High School during the 1916–17 academic year. In 1920, he was hired as coach and head of athletics at Shurtleff College in Alton.[4]

Wood left his coaching position at Shurtleff at the close of the basketball season in 1934 to head the sports department at Owens-Illinois, Inc.—now known as O-I Glass.[5] He was later the personnel director for the firm's plant in Alton. In 1944, Wood was transferred to Toledo, Ohio, where he worked a general veterans coordinator until 1948, when he was appointed the personnel director of O-I's Kimble Glass division. He remained in that role until his retirement, in 1959, when he returned to Alton. He died on January 18, 1980, in Alton.[3]

References

  1. ^ "2018 Football Media Guide". Kansas Jayhawks football. 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  2. ^ "Reads of 1912 Team as Class Talks Reunion". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. September 27, 1962. p. 25. Retrieved November 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
  3. ^ a b "Walter Wood". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. January 21, 1980. p. 9. Retrieved November 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
  4. ^ ""Punk" Wood To Be Shurtleff Coach". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. March 15, 1920. p. 5. Retrieved November 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
  5. ^ "Walter Wood Goes To New Position". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. March 1, 1934. p. 6. Retrieved November 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .